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The role of corporate lobbying in the European Parliament

The role of corporate lobbying in the European Parliament. Massive lobbying pressure. Estimated 15,000+ lobbyists in Brussels 1641 groups and firms in EP lobbyists’ register 4013 lobbyists in EP register (2643 with longterm pass). Dependency on lobbyists?. Complexity / lack of expertise

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The role of corporate lobbying in the European Parliament

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  1. The role of corporate lobbying in the European Parliament

  2. Massive lobbying pressure • Estimated 15,000+ lobbyists in Brussels • 1641 groups and firms in EP lobbyists’ register • 4013 lobbyists in EP register (2643 with longterm pass)

  3. Dependency on lobbyists? • Complexity / lack of expertise • Absence EU-wide public debate • Weak interaction with voters • “What’s good for business”

  4. Lobbyists writing amendments • REACH (chemicals): over 1,000 amendments • EPP: 29% identical wording industry lobbies (Liberals 20%, Socialists 16%, Greens 0%) • EPP: 62% similar wording to industry lobbies

  5. Animal testing directive (spring 2009) • Slovenian liberal MEP Mojca Drcar Murko publicly criticised excessive lobbying by the pharmaceutical industry aimed at defeating proposals that would reduce testing on animals in laboratories • "A lot of colleagues were repeating the same arguments I heard all the time from the research community and pharmaceutical industry -- the same arguments, and even the same words."

  6. Financial market regulation • Radwan report on Basel-2 (capital requirements): 1000+ amendments, many drafted by banking lobbyists • No counter lobby • Inadequate regulation

  7. Intergroups & cross-party groups • Sky and Space Intergroup • European Parliament Financial Services Forum • Forum for Automobile and Society • European Energy Forum

  8. Conflicts of interest • Examples: Worst Conflict of Interest Award • Examples: MEPedia.eu

  9. Revolving doors • Elly Plooij van Gorsel – Blueprint Partners • Pat Cox – APCO and many large firms • Rolf Linkohr - CERES • Piia-Noora Kauppi – Finnish banking lobby • Julian Priestley - EPPA

  10. Place Luxembourg

  11. European Parliament Business Scheme (EBPS) • Office, phone lines, email addresses Parliament • Lima summit 2008: Telefonica, Suez and other European firms • Closed down in autumn 2008

  12. European Parliament elections • Low turnout, PSE loses, PPE ‘winner’, far-right breakthrough • Election debates not about EU policies or record for MEPs • www.electioncampaign.eu

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